Gourmet Catalog Adds 19 Members

After adding seven store members at Chicago’s 2015 International Home and Housewares Show in March, reaching 350 retail locations, Gourmet Catalog and Buying Group’s membership base has continued to climb, adding 19 members since that time.  The Group has welcomed a total of 32 new additions in 2015 with the majority of the fourth quarter ahead.

“Although the number of stores represented by Gourmet Catalog has increased each year since 1981, I have been most moved by the growing strength of existing relationships among members,” said Janis Johnson, president and founder of Gourmet Catalog & Buying Group.  “We have built a professional community that feels more like family and I am genuinely proud to welcome new members to be a part of it.”

As the original buying group in the housewares industry, Gourmet Catalog’s exclusive membership promotes and upholds growth, relationships and success for local retailers.  Through a strong network and progressive solutions, the group offers services and resources tailored to fit the evolving needs of today’s independent.

Gourmet Catalog represents a diverse array of business models, predominately stores that specialize in kitchenware, as well as retailers with a focus on catering, cooking schools, cutlery, department, hardware, gift, grocery, restaurant supply and tabletop stores.    

New store members are: Ace Hardware Big Sky, Big Sky, Mont.; Archestratus Books and Food, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Bazaar, Collierville, Tenn.; BiFoli Home,Naperville, Ill.; Broad Street Market, Camden, S.C.; Chef’s Arsenal, Beth Page, N.Y.; Conwell Ace Home Center, Province Town, Mass.; Cookshop Plus, West Hartford, Conn.; Davis Ace Hardware, Davis, Calif.; ER Energy, Fort Bragg, Calif.; The Homery, Brooklyn, N.Y.; The Kitchen Outlet, Palm Springs, Calif.; Kitchen Snap, Austin, Texas; Monet’s Kitchen, Taos, N.M.; Northern Home Essentials, Havre, Mont.; Now Cooking, Upland, Calif.; Pampered Home, Spoiled Family, Lake Havasu, Ariz.; Sterling Electronics and Kitchenware, Cedar Hursti, N.Y. and Tablesettings, Deal, N.Y.

“Gourmet Catalog was a group we talked about joining for a couple of years and finally decided to go for it in 2015. We went over what I am sure is the most common reason for questioning it, will we recoup our costs? Without a doubt we have,” stated Kati Purkett, manager of Northern Home Essentials.  “We have learned of many products that are out there that we did not know about before, taken advantage of discounts and dating, as well as, found completely new lines to bring in that keep our store fresh and exciting. We are proud to be a Gourmet Catalog member and look forward to our partnership in 2016,” commented Purkett.  

Gourmet Catalog membership benefits include exclusive member meetings beginning January in Atlanta, Chicago in March and July in Atlanta, allowing members to network with vendors and similar industry professionals across the country.  Members value this educational opportunity to share success stories and fresh ideas.  

In addition to meetings, members also receive negotiated discounts, giving independent retailer’s eligibility for best prices.  Savings extend beyond industry vendors and include FedEx, UPS, OfficeMax, Bank of America and more.    

Print and digital catalogs are also offered to provide independent retailers with marketing and advertising collateral that combats distributed material by big box retailers.  These catalogs and flyers are produced twice a year and are circulated directly to store customers.  

For stores contemplating a buying group experience, 2016 marks Gourmet Catalog and Buying Groups’ 35th year in business with member exclusive meetings and celebrations kicking off in January at the 13th annual Start the Year Member Conference, where additional incentives to join the group will be introduced.